From 1958 to 1968 races where held at an airport
near the Austrian city of Zeltweg. In 1961 and 1963 this 3,2 km (2
Miles) long airport circuit was the scene of the Austrian Grand Prix
which where both inaugural races. In 1964 another Austrian Grand
Prix was held at the airport, this one was counted for the Formula 1
World Championship. But the circuit was very bumpy with the result
that many suspensions broke, so the track was find no longer
suitable for Formula 1.
A few miles from the old airport circuit a brand
new permanent circuit was opened in 1969, called the Österreichring.
It was a beautiful 5,942 km (3.713 Miles) long circuit with many
fast corners and lots of elevation differences. From 1970 until 1987
the Austrian Grand Prix was held here every year and the track
became one of the most popular venues on the F1 calendar.
The grey part is the original track, the red part the A1 Ring.
Click on the map for an impression of the old circuit.
The Österreichring was not only a beautiful
challenging circuit, it was also a dangerous circuit! During the
warm up for the 1975 Grand Prix, American Mark Donohue crashed
because of a puncture in the first corner and died a few days later
in the hospital. After the rain soaked race was finished earlier,
race winner Vittorio Brambilla crashed in the exit lap in the same
corner. He escaped unhurt. To increase the safety of the track the
first corner was slightly modified for the 1976 Grand Prix, but a
year later it was changed to a chicane. The corner was now less
challenging but a new overtaking opportunity was created. Unless the
modified first corner the Österreichring still was a very fast
circuit.
The last Grand Prix at the Österreichring was
restarted three times because of some accidents who where conscience
to the narrow start/finish straight. After the circuit was found not
suitable for Formula 1, other races have been held at the
Österreichring but the circuit was neglected slowly but certain.
A new group investors took over the circuit and
with financial help from telecom provider A1, the circuit was
modernised. The new circuit was opened in 1996 and was renamed to
A1-Ring. But the flow of the old Österreichring was completely
destroyed! All fast corners where gone which makes the A1-ring a
stop and go circuit.
In 1997 Formula 1 returned to Austria after nine
years of absence. But after seven Grand Prix the contract was not
renewed, so the last Austrian Grand Prix was in 2003. The official
reason to leave Austria was the ban on tobacco advertisement in the
European Union. Other sources tell that Austria was not lucrative
enough for Formula 1. "Races will only be allocated into countries
which will be in the best interests of the teams, manufacturers and
sponsors" Ecclestone said.
In 2004 the A1 Ring was bought by Red Bull boss
Dietrich Mateschitz. He had ambitious plans to rebuilt the race
track to a sort of theme park. There should come a hotel, kart
track, racing school and much more. Also the old part of the
original Österreichring should be reconnected to the circuit.
Assuming that all permissions have been granted they start to
demolish the old buildings. But after protests of the owner of a
neighbouring domain, the Austrian environment Council did not agreed
the permissions and the works had to stop. What remained was a half
demolished circuit!
In 2005 the Austrian government decided the A1
Ring should be rebuilt. Red Bull was the financial partner again,
but also the KTM, VW and Magna concerns. The circuit should be made
suitable for races and tests, and the works where planned to start
in 2007. But when after a long political tug-of-war with local
authorities VW withdrawn from the project followed by KTM and Magna
it looked all over for what was once one of the world's most
beautiful race tracks. Nevertheless in 2008 Red Bull owner
Mateschitz gets green light from the local authorities to continue
the project. The reopening of the new circuit is now planned for
September the 10th 2010. The new track will be a little bid longer
than the A1 Ring. But it will never be the same as the good old
Österreichring. That great circuit belongs to the past!
